AP Government Unit 6

First amendment freedoms

Freedom of assembly, press, religion, speech

civil liberties

freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment

civil rights

right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equ

establishment clause

Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.

Free exercise clause

the First Amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice

pure speech

is the peaceful expression of thoughts, ideas, or opinions before a willing audience. This is the neighborly chat or the local candidate's campaign speech. It is your expression of ideas about a political issue or official. This type of speech is generall

speech plus

speech accompanied by activities such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Protection of this form of speech under the first amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if porperly balanced by cons

symbolic speech

nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband. The Supreme Court has accorded some symbolic speech protection under the first amendment.

slander

an abusive attack on a person's character or good name

sedition

rebellion or resistance against the government

due process

principle in the Fifth Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

probable cause

(law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure

search warrant

A court order allowing law enforcement officers to search a suspect's home or business and take specific items as evidence

double jeopardy

being tried twice for the same crime

venue

The location where something takes place, esp. a trial

eminent domain

the right of government to take private property for public use

reasonable suspicion

evidence that justifies an officer in stopping and questioning an individual believed to be involved in criminal activity

exclusionary rule

a rule that provides that otherwise admissible evidence cannot be used in a criminal trial if it was the result of illegal police conduct

bail

the legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial)

comparable worth

the issue raised when women who hold traditionally female jobs are paid less than men for working at jobs requiring comparable skill

jim crow laws

Limited rights of blacks. Literacy tests, grandfather clauses and poll taxes limited black voting rights

de jure segregation

segregation that is imposed by law

de facto segregation

Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.

grandfather clause

A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867.

affirmative action

a policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities

reverse discrimination

Discrimination against whites or males in hiring or promoting

seperate but equal doctrine

the standard under which the court once upheld racial segragation; Plessy v Fergunson

indictment

an accusation of wrongdoing

arraignment

a hearing in which a suspect is charged and pleads guilty or not guilty

literacy test

A test given to persons to prove they can read and write before being allowed to register to vote

poll tax

a tax of a fixed amount per person and payable as a requirement for the right to vote

compensatory action

helping disadvantaged people catch up, usually by giving them extra education, training, or services

strict scrutiny

a Supreme Court test to see if a law denies equal protection because it does not serve a compelling state interest and is not narrowly tailored to achieve that goal.

clear and present danger

a standard for judging when freedom of speech can be abridged

presumption of innocence

a person is innocent of a crime, even when arrested for that crime, until they are proven guilty in a court of law